Electric rat-exterminator.



Patented Sept. 8, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTQJJTHOU WASHINCI'ON1 D. C.

J. W. M. OARMIGHAEL.

ELECTRIC RAT EXTERMINATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED mm; 20, 1913.

1 ,1 10,186, Patented Sept. 8, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PE|=-= 60.. PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGIUN. u. L,

ELECTRIC RAT- T0 aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that 1, James W. M. Can- MICHAEL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of .Vellsburg, in the county of Brooke and titate of West Virginia, have invented a new and improved Electric Rat- Exterminator, of which the following is a full, clear and exact description.

This invention relates to an electric rat exterminator of that type in which a rat is enticed into the device and in attempting to reach the bait is included in an electric circuit, so that current passing through the body of the rat electrocutes it, the present invention being moreparticularly improvements in the type of exterminators shown in United States Letters Patent Number 1,03%,976, granted to me August 6, 1912.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve the construction of apparatus of the character referred to so as to be thoroughly reliable and ethcient in use and capable of operating in the circuit of lower voltage, since it is merely necessary to use current of sufficient strength to stun the rats so that they will drop into a body of water and be drowned therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of compartments in the cage or trap for holding live rats, food and the like to operate as decoys to attract free rats into the entrance tubes or channels where an entering rat will cause the circuit to be completed through its body, whereby the stunned rat will drop and be drowned in the tank in which the cage is set, thetank usually containing water, except in freezing weather, when brine will be employed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tank which serves as a casing or box to contain the cage or trap when the latter is not in use, there being hangers which are adapted to be hooked on the top of the tank to form rests on which the bottom of the cage is seated when in use.

A further object is the provision of a tray that normally sets in the bottom of the tank and is removable in water to take out the rats that have been entrapped and drowned in the device.

With these objects in view, and others as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises various novel features Specification of "Letters Eatent.

Application filed June 20, 1313.

EX ERIIIINATOB.

Patented Sept. 8, 1914:.

Serial No. 774,822.

of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the QCCOiDPELDYiIIg drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and wherein similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus when not in use; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the cage in position for use; Figs. 3 and at are vertical transverse and longitudinal sections ofthe apparatus; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 55 of Fig. l; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the bait bask-et or movable contact; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the tray; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the cage supporting hangers.

Referring to the drawings, A designates B the cage or trap, the tank being in the form of box and of such size as to entirely house the cage when the latter is not in use, the tank or casing A having a lid or top 1 fastened to the tank by hinges 2, and protitled with a hasp 3 which cooperates with a loop i on the tank to hold the lid in closed ion, as shown in 1, the lid having roning through which the handle 6 of the tip of the cage is adapted to protrude.

The B is a box-like structure which is adapted when in use to extend slightly into the tank and rest on hangers 7 conructed as shownin Fig. 8, the hooks S of the hangers all gripping over the rim of the tank a. at opposite ends or adjacent the corners, and the feet 9 of the hangers serving to engage the bottom of the cage B. ll hen the cag is to be stored in the tank or casing i l the hangers 7 are removed and ila i'cd on the bottom of the tank, and then the cage is inserted, the lid then being closed and locked in such position. i in the bottom of the tank, which latter is adapted to be about half filled with water or brine, is a tray or rat removing device O, which, as shown in Fig. 7, consists of a rectangular frame 10 having a reticulated bottom 11. there being upright members or bridles 172 at the ends of the tray to form convenient handholds for enabling the tray the casing or tank of the apparatus, and

to be lifted out of the tank to remove the rats that have been eXterminat-ed. Cu, course it 's necessary to lift out the cage betore the device U can be removed from the tank A.

"lhc rage ll is of any approved structure, with one or more sides made or wire mesh l3. so that live rats as decoys and bait will serve to entice lree rats into the cage. Entrance to the cage is etlected from either end through entrance channels or passages 14- which are preferably of glass, except at their inner ends, woere metallic extensions or cmitact pieces 15 ot flaring form are pro- Qled, said stationary contact pieces 15 be i spaced apart to acconnnodate between n a bait-holding basket or movable conl). The outer ends of the entra'ace or passages 14: are fitted in openings 7 the end walls of the cage, while the i ends of the tubes are sustained by sup- The tubes or [)CiSStW'QS l-il have at points intermediate their ends, depressions .8 for holding water, whereby the rats in passing; to the bait basket wet their feet and. thereby insure a better current-conductinn contact with the metal extensions 15. The extension pieces 15 are connected in circuit with a suitable source of current by wires 19 and 20, and the metallic bait basket l) :nlapted to be moved into engagement with the other fixed contact 15 by a rat in attempting; to remove bait from the basket, the latter being pressed in one direction or the other by the rat, so that current passes from one tired contact 15, the body of the rat, bait basket D, and the other fixed contact 15 with which the basket is pressed into ei'igup ement by the rat. The basket D is pivotally supported or suspended within the cage by a rod 21 or equivalent means made of insulation.

immediately under the entrance tubes It is a horizontal partition 22 of wire or the like, dividing the cage into upper and lower compartments 23 and 2t, the upper ccn partment sort to contain food and water in order to attiact outside rats, and in the lower compartment live captive rats may be contained to serve as decoys for tree rats, there being in the compartment 2st receptacles for holding food and water. For access to the compartment 24; for placing therein or removing therefrom captive rats and for supplying :tood and water and for cleanii'ig, openings 26 are provided in the ends of the cage, which openings are normlly closed by doors 2?. The upper compartment also has opcnin s 98 and doors so that the bait can be placed therein. The bottom 30 oil the lower compartment made. of sheet metal and has an opening 31 at the center, where an inverted funnel is formed directly under the flared eaten sions 15, and through this tunnel or passage the stunned rat drops into the tank Around the tunnel or passage is a surroumlinp; wall 25;] of wire mesh.

A bait basket or movable contact D, as shown in Fig. 6, comprises a metal body 8st having upwardly-extending spaced lugs or arms provided with openings 36, through which the insulating support 2i, l' ig. 1, ex tends, thereby i'reely suspending bait basket. The under arched bottom of the basket is provided with spears or teeth 38 for preventing the rats from passing from one entrance tube to the other, or from working their way back through the daring extension pieces after the rat starts to slip into the discharge passage or lruinel 352. The top oi' the basket directly under an opening L0 in the top of the cage, so that bait can be supplied to the basket or emptied therefrom.

In using the device, the tank is halffilled with water, and after the tray C is placed in the bottom of the tr ,k the hangers "Z are properly positioned, as shown in Fig. 4t. The cage B is now reset into the tank and seated on the hangers. ll ater is supplied to the depressions or cups 18, and the circuit coi'itaining the extensions 15 is closed by a suitable switch. Assuming that bait and the decoys are in the cage, the apparatus is now ready for use. In order to obtain. ac cess to the cage the enticed rats walk up the inclines or runways d1, which are attached to the cage by means of hooks 42 at the upper ones of the runways, engaging in eyes t3. In entering the downwardly-inclined entrance tubes l t the rat steps into the Water in the depressions l8 and then continues into the metallic extensions 15, and attempting to take out bait from the basket B the rat pushes the freely movable basket toward the opposite xtension piece 15, thereby closing the electric circuit through his body. The stunned rat thereupon drops into the tank A and is drowned. "When the eXtei-minated rats are to be removed, the cage B is taken oil", the hanger 'l' is removed and the tray C lifted out with the dead rats thereon. hitter emptying, the parts then restored to their proper position, so that the cage will be ready for further use.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the method of operation and of the apparatus shown will. be readily understood by those skilled. in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described. the apparatus which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination of a tank provided with a lid, with a cage of such size as to be stored in the tank when not in use, a plurality of hangers removably positioned on the body of the tank when the lid is open to support the cage in the upper portion of the tank, and a removable tray in the bottom of the tank for removing the exterminated rats.

2. The combination of a tank, a tray therein having upright bridles forming handholds, a cage adapted to be positioned in the tank between the said bridles, and means for supporting the cage in operative position at the top of the tank.

3. A cage comprising a body, entrance passages leading into the body, metallic pieces at the inner ends of the passages, one piece being spaced from the other, a pendant bait holder mounted between the metallic teeth fixed on the bottom of the bait holder.

4. The combination of a tank adapted to hold water, a tray arranged within the tank and normally resting on the bottom thereof, a cage of such size as to be inclosed in the tank and adapted to nest in the tray, the ends of the cage being spaced from the ends of the tank, members fastened to the ends of the tray and extending upwardly between the ends of the tank and cage, said members being of less length than the depth of the tank, and a cover for the tank.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAnEs w. M. CARMICHAEL.

Witnesses:

F. E. ADAMS, J. A. GIST.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

